Assembly means for metal doors



June 1954 J. c. MITCHELL ETAL 2,632,325

ASSEMBLY MEANS FOR METAL DOORS Filed Dec. 31, 1952 2 Shaejts-Sheet l 4/ M h W11 I1 24 i 26 36 2f gum/90mm 1 JC/Vz'ichelhlrzdrewi. 039% LeoflZQgy June 29, 1954 J. c. MiTCH ELL ETAL ASSEMBLY MEANS FOR METAL DOORS- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1952 3H4) c/wbow (fa/$536k eZZ, Hi2 drew L. Qyy 19 Patented June 29, 1954 ASSEMBLY MEANS FOR METAL DQORS J. C. Mitchell, Victoria, and Andrew L. Ogg and Leo E. Ogg, Bryan, Tex.

Application December 31, 1952, Serial No. 328,914

8 Claims.

This invention relates to the construction of metal frames for doors, panels and the like, and more particularly to means for detachably looking together the members of a panel supporting frame, for example the top, bottom, and side members of a glass door of the type in which the frame is made up of tubular members of substantially rectangular cross section.

Panel frames of this type may be fastened together by means of tie rods extending across the panel from side to side inside the hollow top and bottom members. In panel frames of this type, one problem is to interlock the sections of the frame securely against spreading apart and against individual twisting of the sect ons about their respective longitudinal axes. One object of our invention is to provide improved means for securely interlocking the members of a sectional frame against such displacements.

Another object is to provide a novel panel frame construction which may easily be disassembled and reassembled for the substitution or replacement of the supported panel.

This invention is not limited to glass doors, nor to panels having a single pane or section, and is applicable to panels having a plurality of panes or sections. One object of the invention is to provide a device and a frame construction suitable for firmly securing one or more additional cross rails within the panel structure between the bounding rails of the panel frame.

These and other objects which will become apparent from the following detailed description are attained by the use of a novel frame locking block in each joint between sections of the frame, together with suitable bolts or tie rods and nuts.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in elevation, at a reduced scale in comparison to the remaining figures of the drawings, of a glass-panelled door with a surrounding frame constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section along line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the use of one embodiment of the novel frame aligning block of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a section along line 3-3 of Fig ure 2.

Figure 4 is a section along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section substantially along line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective, partially broken away, of the frame aligning block shown in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a corner joint of a glass door utilizing a modified frame aligning block constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 8 is a section along line 88 of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a section along line 9.l of Figure '7.

Figure 10 is a section along line l0|8 of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a view n perspective of the frame aligning block of Figures 7 to 10 inclusive.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like figures refer to like parts, Fig. 1 shows a glasspanelled door Ill constructed in accordance with the present invention comprising a panel II, which may be of glass, and a frame surrounding panel ll consisting of side rails l2 and I3 and cross rails M and [5, at the top and bottom, respectively. Side rails l2 and. i3 extend the full height of the frame, with cross rails M and I5 extending between them from side to side. Rails [2, l3, l4, and [5 are of tubular, open ended construction. Beads 16, suitably secured to the side and cross rails, serve to hold the panel in the frame.

Figure 6 shows a preferred form of frame aligning block 20, constructed in accordance with the present invention, which is adapted to be used in a corner joint such as 2|, in the manner illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive.

Frame aligning block 20 comprises a front plate 22 and a spaced rear plate or side rail aligning member 23 joined by a bridge 24 adjacent a pair of proximate edges of members 22 and 23. When assembled in the corner joint 28, as best seen in Fig. 3, block 20 is slipped over the end of abutting wall 26, and a tie rod 38 extends from side rail I2 to side rail I3 within cross rail l5. Tie rod 30 is threaded at both ends and extends through block 20 and wall 26. At the lower end of side rail l3, but not shown, there is a similar symmetrical arrangement to that shown in Figure 3, with a similar block 29' over the end,

of the inner wall of side rail [3. A nut ll, screwed on the end of tie rod 30 bears against surface I8 of front plate 22. A similar nut bears against the corresponding surface on the far side of similar block 20'. When the two nuts are set up tight, front plate 22 bears against the inner surface of wall 25, forcing the outer or abutting face thereof against the open abutting end 69 of cross rail I5, and with member 23 embraced within said cross rail.

As best shown in Figure 5, the upper surface 3 27 of bridge 24 is V-shaped so that it will fit a notch 25 of the same shape formed in the lower edge of inner wall 26 of side rail l2. A pair of aligned bolt holes 28 and 29 are formed respectively in front plate 22 and in locking member 23. In order to cooperate with block 20 and with tie rod 30, a bolthole 3| spaced from notch 25 is formed in wall 26. Boltholes 28, 29, and 3| are of the same diameter, which is just large enough to fit tie rod 30 snugly. The position of boltholes 28 and 29 with respect to surface 21' in the block 28, and the position of bolthole 3| with respect to notch 25 in the wall 26, are matching, so that when the frame is assembled the surfaces of boltholes 28, 29, and 3| snugly fit tie rod 39 while surface 21 snugly fits notch 25, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The surfaces of boltholes '28 and 29 and surface 2l' constitute aligning surfaces which, in cooperation with tie rod 30, lock block 29 and side rail l2 together against relative movement, either transversely or about the axis of tie rod 3:].

It is not necessary that notch 25 and surface 21 be V-shaped. Any desired matching configuration may be used.

The upper edge 32 and the side edges 33 of rear plate or side rail aligning member 23 are shaped to fit closely the internal surfaces of cross rail IS on the side 34 thereof adjacent panel H, and on the sides 35 adjacent side 32. The lower edge 36 of member 23 may be so spaced from bolthole 29 and surface 27 as to leave room for a slight clearance between block 20 and the inner surface of the side 3i of rail l opposite side 34, as indicated at 38; or block 26 may be formed so that edge 36 fits snugly against the inner surface of side 31. Edges 32 and 33, or 32, 33 and 36 constitute a side rail aligning surface on block 20 to lock side rail I5 against rotation about the axis of tie rod 30, to prevent transverse movement of rail I5 with respect to the plane of door It, and to closely limit or entirely prevent the movement of rail I5 toward or away from panel When assembled as shown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, it will be apparent that block 25! looks rails I2 and I5 securely together against any relative movement, except for the slight vertical movement permitted by clearance 38 when such clearance is provided.

The exposed edge 46 of front plate 22 may be flush with lower edge 36 of member 23, or it may extend downwardly slightly and under bridge 24 so as to cover the opening abreast clearance 38. Front plate 22 may be slightly wider than indicated, so as to fill the spaces indicated at 4| between front plate 22 and front and back walls of side rail |2; in this case the edges of front plate 22 at sides 4| constitute additional locking surfaces to prevent movement of block 2|] with respect to side rail i2. Or the width and contour of plate 22 as viewed in Fig. 4 may be reduced considerably, so long as front plate 22 has adequate bearing surface for nut I1 and adequate bearing surface against wall 25.

Fig. 11 shows a modified form of frame aligning block 20' constructed in accordance with the present invention, and Figs. 7 to inclusive show this form of aligning block installed in the corner joint of a door.

Frame aligning block '20 comprises a front plate 22' and a spaced side rail aligning member 23' joined by a bridge 24' adjacent a pair of proximate edges of members 22' and 23. When assembled in the door, as best seen in Fig. 8, block 20 is fitted into a notch 25 in the side of abutting wall 26' of side rail II, with front plate 22' against wall 26' and member 23' fitting inside the open end of cross rail IS. A tie rod 30' and nut I1 serve to draw the two side rails against opposite ends of cross rail I5 in the manner previously described for the construction of Figs. 1 to 6.

Notch 25' is shaped so as to fit closely the portion 21' of the upper surface of bridge '24 which bears against the notch 25'. Spaced from notch 25' is a bolt hole 3 in wall 26. A matching bolt hole 28', spaced from exposed edge 40, is formed in front plate 22. The position of bolt hole 28' with respect to surface 21', and the position of bolt hole 3| with respect to notch 25' match, so that, when assembled with tie rod 3|, block 20' and side rail I2 are locked firmly together, in the same manner described for the construction of Figs. 1 to 6.

Upper surface 32, lower surface 36, and side surfaces 33, 33" and 33" of cross rail aligning member 23 are formed so as to fit closely the internal surfaces of cross rail l5, and comprise a side rail aligning surface to hold side rail 23' against displacement with respect to block 20 when the assembly is drawn together by the tie rod.

It will be apparent that block 20 looks side rail i2 and cross rail l5 securely together.

It will be observed that the construction of Figs. '7 to 10 inclusive may be used for the joints of side rails with cross rails intermediate the ends of the side rails, for example with cross rails between the panes of a multipaned panel or door. It will also be apparent that the aligning block 20' of Fig. 11 could be used over the lower end of wall 26, and that an aligning block constructed like block 20 of Fig. 6 could be used to fit in the face of a door in a manner similar to the construction of Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive. To ive access to the nut when the cross rail I5 is intermediate the ends of side rail l2 an access hole maybe formed in the side rail, as at 45. A suitable closure may be provided for this access hole.

In addition to providing a rigid frame, one advantage of the present invention is that the danger of breaking a glass panel during assembly thereof in the frame is minimized by the elimination of twisting of the cross rails while the frame is being assembled and the tie rods or bolts tightened.

It will be apparent that numerous other modifications, and other forms of the frame aligning block are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

It is believed that the best method of using this invention, and the manner of assembling panels with frame aligning blocks in accordance with this invention will be apparent from the foregoing description.

We claim as our invention:

1. A frame aligning block, adapted for use in a panel frame together with a threaded tie rod and nut to securely lock together adjacent sections of said frame, said frame having an elongated side rail and an elongated cross rail, said side rail having an abutting wall with a notch therein and a side rail bolthole in said abutting wall spaced from said notch, said cross rail being of tubular construction having an open abutting end adapted to fit against said abutting wall to form a frame joint, comprising: a front plate adapted to bear against said abutting wall of said rail on the surface thereof opposite said abutting end of said cross rail, said front plate having a bearing surface for said nut, an exposed edge, and a front plate bolthole spaced from said exposed edge; an aligning member adapted to fit within said open abutting end of said cross rail having a cross rail aligning surface adapted to engage said cross rail to limit the'movement of said cross rail with respect to said frame aligning block; and a bridge fixedly joining said front plate and said aligning member adjacent said exposed edge, said bridge having an aligning surface adapted to engage said side rail; said side rail bolthole and said front plate bolthole being so formed and so placed in their respective members that they register together and closely fit said tie rod when said frame aligning block is assembled with said side rail, cross rail, and tie rod; whereby, when said frame is assembled with two of said side rails, at least two of said cross rails, one of said frame aligning blocks in each joint, and a tie rod in each cross rail extending through the said side rail bolthole and the said front plate bolthole at the joints at both ends of each cross rail, and when one of said nuts is tightened at each end of each of said tie rods, said frame will be securely locked together.

2. A frame aligning block in accordance with claim 1, adapted for use in a panel frame in which said cross rail of tubular construction has a plurality of internal side surfaces, wherein said cross rail aligning surface includes portions of said aligning member bearing against each of said internal side surfaces of said open abutting end of said cross rail.

3. A frame aligning block in accordance with claim 1 wherein said aligning member is a U- shaped member being of U-shaped configuration in cross section parallel to said front plate, and said cross rail aligning surface comprises surfaces on the external sides and ends of said U- shaped member.

4. A frame aligning block in accordance with claim 1, adapted for use in a panel frame in which said cross rail of tubular construction is rectangular in cross section perpendicular to its elongated axis and has four corresponding internal side surfaces at the top, bottom, and lateral sides thereof, wherein said aligning member comprises a flat locking plate extending parallel to said front plate and having a bolthole coaxial with said front plate bolthole.

5. A frame aligning block in accordance with claim 3 wherein said aligning member is of substantially rectangular shape having edges at the top, bottom and sides thereof and said cross rail aligning surface comprises at least three of said edges of said aligning member.

6. A frame aligning block in accordance with claim 4 wherein said cross rail aligning surface comprises all four edges of said aligning member.

7. In a panel frame comprising a pair of tubular side rails, open-ended tubular cross rails between said side rails with their open ends abutting said side rails, and tie rods in each of said cross rails extending between said side rails and 6 drawing said side rails toward each other against opposite open ends of said cross rails; a corner joint between one side rail and a cross rail comprising: an abutting wall of said side rail, having a notch therein and a side rail bolthole spaced from said notch; an open abutting end of said cross rail bearing against said abutting wall of said open abutting end, having an internal surface therein; a frame aligning block comprising a front plate inside said side rail bearing against said abutting wall and having an exposed edge and a bolthole spaced therefrom, an aligning member fitting within said open abutting end having a cross rail aligning surface engaging said internal surface, and a bridge fixedly joining said front plate and said aligning member adjacent said exposed edge, said bridge having an aligning surface adapted to engage said notch; and a tie rod within said cross rail connected to the other side rail and extending through said side rail bolthole and said bolthole in said front plate; said tie rod having fastening means thereon bearing against said front plate; whereby said cross rail, said aligning block, and said adjacent side rail are held securely together.

8. In a panel frame comprising a pair of tubular side rails of rectangular cross-section, openended tubular cross rails of rectangular crosssection between said side rails with their open ends abutting said side rails, and tie rods in each of said cross rails extending between said side rails and drawing said side rails towards each other against opposite open ends of said cross rails; a corner joint between one side rail and a cross rail comprising: an abutting wall of said side rail, having a notch therein and a side rail bolthole spaced from said notch; an open abutting end of said cross rail bearing against said abutting wall, having internal side surfaces at the top, bottom and lateral sides thereof; a frame aligning block comprising a front plate inside said side rail bearing against said abutting wall and having an exposed edge and a bolthole spaced therefrom, an aligning plate spaced from and parallel to said front plate fitting within said open abutting end of said cross rail, said aligning plate being of substantially rectangular shape with at least three of its edges abutting said internal side surfaces of said open abutting end, said aligning plate having a bolthole coaxial with said bolthole of said front plate and a bridge fixedly joining said front plate and said aligning plate adjacent said exposed edge, said bridge having a locking surface engaging said notch of said abutting wall; and a tie rod within said cross rail connected to the other side rail and extending through said boltholes of said aligning plate, said abutting wall, and said front plate; said tie rod having fastening means thereon bearing against said front plate; whereby said cross rail, said aligning block, and said adjacent side rail are held securely together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,799,423 Hubbert Apr. 7, 1931 2,605,869 Backman Aug. 5, 1952 2,644,554 Katz July 7, 1953 

